Rapper Nas Delivers Fox News Petition, Says Network Is "Scared" (VIDEO)

** Update below: Nas delivers Fox petition to Stephen Colbert **

Rolling Stone reports on the Color Of Change/MoveOn/Brave New Films petition that rapper Nas brought to the offices of Fox News today:

About four hours after the announcement that his controversial, politically charged ninth album was number one in the country, Nas was on a small podium in front of Fox News headquarters in New York City protesting what he sees as racist attacks against Black Americans and presidential candidate Barack Obama. In a brief prepared statement, the multi-platinum rapper pointed out examples of what he and ColorOfChange see as a long racist smear campaign against the Obama family: The onscreen graphic that referred to Michelle Obama as the Senator's "baby mama"; Bill O'Reilly casually using the phrase "lynching party" to refer to attacks on the Senator's wife; referencing to the couple's infamous fist thump as a "terrorist fist jab." Said Nas, "Fox poisons this country every time they air racist propaganda and try to call it news. This should outrage every American that Fox uses hateful language to talk about the person that may be the first black president."

The rapper stood next to 19 neatly stacked cardboard boxes, with the number 620,127 taped to the side of each one -- over 600,000 signatures gathered by ColorOfChange demanding that network president Roger Ailes "find a solution to address racial stereotyping and hate-mongering before it hits the airwaves." Fox rejected the petitions, but Brave New Films says that Comedy Central's The Colbert Report will accept them instead.

Watch video of the scene from Color of Change:

UPDATE: Via the comments section, here's the music video for Sly Fox, Nas's takedown of Fox News (some explicit lyrics):

UPDATE II: Fox News wouldn't accept Nas' petition, but Stephen Colbert did. Take a look (scroll to 8:45):

Comments

[gaither83]

It's a shame, I used to be a huge fan of Nas. I really thought he understood the way the systems works, especially with tracks like One Mic, My Country and What Goes Around (which were basically about government upheaval and anarchy). However, I see he's just another sell out wannabe idiot endorsing Barack Obama like it makes a damn. I am truly dissapointed.
He should be speaking out like Rage Against the Machine telling us how both parties sold out the American people and that neither is looking out for our interests, period.

[hondugirl]

This is in response to Karen SL. By reading the way you express yourself and by choosing to use violence in your dealings maybe the one that needs to visit a Kingdom Hall is you. And why would you delegate a responsibility as great as your children spiritual welfare to others? It's not my place to judge you, but think about this.

[KarenSL]

hondugirl, sorry you do not approve of the way I express myself or that you do not approve of the way I dealt with my ex husband when it came down to a question of the psycological and physical well being of my 10 and 4 year old daughters - but 12 years after the fact my daughters are beautiful loving compassionate young ladies who never gave me one ounce of trouble their entire lives - they are gems, and their father has thanked me countless of times for a job well done in raising them without his day to day involvement in their lives. As for the religion thing - my relationship with God is strong and very much in tact without my having to go to any church -- please don't assume that because my daughters went to church/Kingdom Hall with my sister means that God did not play a role in our lives - can you allow me the privilege of worshipping God the way I choose as, like you said, it is not your place to judge me but only His.

[CamJam]

I was one of those that signed the petition as well... IMHO, it was for a very good cause. And in a way, I hope the message is LOUD and CLEAR to FOX and above all to Murdoch and his sinking ship! Arrgh!

I've never heard of NAS, but I do like the lyrics and the song he sang on The Colbert Report show.

[Raymondf]

Scared, thats really funny.

[CamJam]

Yea it is and they should be... They need to take a bit of their own medicine of "scared"

[PSD827]

I am one of the 620,127 people who signed the petition. I think that MoveOn should have chosen a much better representative to deliver our signatures than Nas. Two of his top songs are "Watch Dem N*ggas" and "Money is My B*tch." Picking an artist of his ilk, sends up a red flag, gives Fox "News" an excuse to ignore us, and it diminishes our credibility and our cause.

[KarenSL]

Not only does it give FOX news an excuse to ignore you'll it gives Fox viewers a REASON to ignore you'll -- and oh yeah -- what CAUSE was it exactly. Too late damage done -- what a total waste of time, energy, paper, and everything else -- not to mention GAS. The saying "Don't shoot the messenger" absolutely CANNOT be applied in this case but perhaps the saying "the POT calling the KETTLE black" can. And please no hate replies accusing me of being a racist and hate monger just because I chose to use an "old" saying such as "the pot calling the kettle black" when referring to an article or a "cause" involving a black man.

[EyesWideOpen]

I agree with you completely, PSD827. I also signed the petition - at MoveOn.org - with no idea that it would be delivered by Nas, who now seems to be taking complete credit for it.

I find it extremely poor judgment on MoveOn.org's part to choose him to deliver the petition, on the Huffington Post's part to write about it as 'Nas's petition', and on Steven Colbert's part to give a free ride to a hypocrite who espouses racism, misogyny, and promotion of street violence - doesn't mention MoveOn.org with a single word. Colbert's absurd analogy of Nas's lyrics and promotion of street violence to Bing Crosby and 'White Christmas' doesn't cut it.

[Ramirez]

You got owned.

[Brillig]

One blogger admits he doesn't know NAS but is willing to bet his music is the same hateful music Listened to by his 21, 16 and possibly 8 year old daughters. Of course, whether we admit it or not, hateful music is accepted by people raised by hateful parents. My children would listen to NAS, hateful or not, but they would not make him a multimillionaire by purchasing his music IF the music went against the grain of what their values are.

So, if any of you find your children purchasing, or eagerly listening to, hateful music (OR FOX NEWS CLIPS) then you know you have done your job.

Your hateful behavior and value system has produced a "chip off the old block" - somone just like YOU.

[KarenSL]

Oh come on Brillig, how in the world can you throw Fox News in when talking about all the "hateful" lyrics found in music today - particularly rap music. Brings back a memory to me of when my husband and I broke up - I was telling him he was NOT to have my two daughters around his sister and her friends because they were wicked nasty immoral people and then he in turn told me he did NOT want me to have his daughters going to the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses with my sister -- blew me right away and in turn I sprayed his a** with pepper spray and then left -- I figured he got my point and would not forget it for quite some time to come. Never had a problem with him with regard to my daughters ever since! Saying all of this because I feel the urge to reach for my pepper spray right now! There is a HUGE difference between apples and oranges Brillig -- can't you tell! And you are mixing them up big time here by throwing FOX into your comment regarding all the "hateful" music out there today.

[CEDobson]

After reading your "story," I asked myself two things - what is your definition of "wicked nasty immoral people," and on what basis did you find it acceptable to physically abuse your ex-husband?"

As far as Fox goes, it is my belief that any use of racism in the news medium should be grounds for immediate termination of employment.

I'm not a big fan of rap music personally, but as a parent, I believe in parental censorship of what my children listen to, what they watch on television, the videos they play and the movies they see. I do not believe, however, in universal censorship, that which republicans are notorious for.

Instead of reading your comments and trying to understand your position - I found them deeply disturbing and scary.

[KarenSL]

Oh wow, that one went right through - lucky me. Now what ever happened to my two other comments which were continuation of my comment posted at 11:00 am. This set up with the amount of words per post limited and the disecting of every feeling and opinion expressed makes it very difficult to get ones point or opinion across - and by the way - don't I have that RIGHT.

[KarenSL]

How long does it take to vet comments before they are able to be posted?. Does every comment posted have to go to Congress to be approved or not approved??? 6 comments pending and it takes about an hour for them to appear - if approved. How is one supposed to know if or why their comment does not get posted?????? This takes up people's time and energy going on sites, reading articles and then posting a comment to weigh in on topics that peak our interest.

Yeah, yeah - I know the drill -- FIND ANOTHER BLOG SITE IF YOU'RE NOT HAPPY HERE ON HUFFPOST!

[Heavy]

Scott McClellan admitted yesterday that while he served as the White House Press Secretary the administration basically fed Faux News their talking points. Big surprise. Using a private (so called) news organization to disseminate their partly line perspective constitutes propogandizing the American people which is a crime. Add another one to the long list of high crimes and misdemeanors. Mob families have more ethical standards than this administration.

[KarenSL]

I confess I do not know who this guy Nas is nor would I be able to identify any of his music but I would bet all the money I have that I have heard his songs over and over and over while driving in the car with my 21 year old and 16 year old daughters and no doubt will be subjected to it with my 8 year old daughter. Why let them listen to it while I am in the car with them - well because I take the opportunity to point out to them how awful the lyrics are with nothing but foul language and degrading words about them as females, etc. etc. etc. -- so I take advantage of yet another opportunity for me to try to teach them -- but of course I admit the odds of them learning are stacked pretty darn high against me -- but unfortunately mostly against them.

to be contd on next post...............

[CEDobson]

In some countries, they call that brainwashing ("over and over and over" to "point out how awful the lyrics are").

Be careful - might backfire on you.

[KarenSL]

You might just be right - lately I've found myself taking a liking to some of the "beats" in this music stuff my daughters prefer -- any brainwashing being done - it's being done to me obviously.

[KarenSL]

And in your opinion CEDobson - just who is being brainwashed -- me or my daughters?

[KarenSL]

So far it has not backfired on me - I haven't been brainwashed yet!

[Shammie2000]

Nas great job, we need more of our citizens to get involved, our form of government wasn't designed to have a bunch of bench warmers (thanks thomas,geo­rge,ben,et­c.) you have to get in the game and rest the starters, that means learning about the issues and letting your thought/voice be heard, we recently had elections where I live and 23% of our fellow citizens went out to vote (that in it self should be a crime)but I think/hope that the people are finally coming out of a deep (brain dead) slumber. And Fox Nox will soon be history.

[caldarone]

It's a shame that Fox gets away with this type of stuff, they have been doing this type of propaganda for years , before Barack Obama ever got this nomination.

[AnotherMike]

I suggest Nas take those petitions on tour and offer to deliver them to the American people. After all, they are the ones that perpetuate this filth.

If Fox News didn't get ratings they wouldn't make money and they would be forced to change tactics. As it is, they're the most watched cable "news" network on TV, racism and all.

I applaud Nas for being proactive in his fight to end the garbage that comes from any NewsCorp outlet, but this won't accomplish anything. Bad press? Who cares... Fox of course won't cover it and that means the people who watch Fox will never get the mesage since every (legitimate) other news organization is consistently labeled as the "liberal media" by Fox and Co.

This is a work in progress. We'll have a black president soon and if we're lucky, by the end of his first term the percentage of people who still think he's a Muslim might actually drop below 5.

The problem isn't Fox, it's us.

[vipersdad]

Amen, AnotherMIke..... I agree 100% with you.

Nas needs to take those petitions to the nice people whose advertising dollars keep Fox on the air.

Unless they don't want the business of close to a million people....

[gotborked]

Whatever Fox has done aside, who is Nas to preach to anyone about using "hateful language"? That's just silly.

In fact, him being the spokesmen for this speach-police group illustrates the sort of double standard that perpetuates a racial divide and incites racism.

I know he is a more socially conscious rapper than some, but his lyrics are often textbook "hateful language". If they wanted their cause to have credibility, they should've gone with someone else.

[GeekyGirl]

What do you mean by "their cause"? His lyrics speak from his heart and he is angry. And it does not come across as "hateful language". If you listen to his music, you can tell that he is obviously intelligent. Its not silly that Nas decided to "preach" but logical as he talks about racism in his music all the time.

The cause has credibility with Nas rather than Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton because he is speaking to the youth who actually listen to him. He is speaking to the generation that will hopefully make a change to this country. Go Nas!

[InfosolutionWiz]

GREAT RESPONSE!!! WELL SAID!!!

[phobophobe]

You are so right. Fox's ignorant viewers only focus on the negative aspects that feed into their preconceived opinions about Nas, and about people of color, and about liberals . . . about everyone and everything Fox tells them, explicitly or implicitly, to hate.
Young people, and a few old people like me, are willing to see the good, see the big picture of who Nas is, and what he is doing here. I hope there are more brave, articulate, talented young people coming right behind him, challenging Fox in all kinds of ways.
I disagree with anyone who says MoveOn should have picked someone else to deliver the petition. And one more thing -- Thanks, Stephen Colbert. You still got big brass ones!

[MisterA]

Before this election is over, Fox News will have revealed itself as a horde of flying monkeys who will spell the words "Surrender, N****r!" in the sky.